NYSCC FISH COMMITTEE REPORT-2004

      The fish committee had an excellent spring meeting with the help of Doug Stange, chief of fisheries NYSDEC. The major concern the committee had this year was undoubtedly state of the fish hatcheries in New York State. Doug estimated that the hatcheries need $20,000,000 for general repairs and updating. The state is only releasing $800,000 for this purpose in 2004. Four of the 12 hatcheries are in very poor condition and need work NOW.  The committee could not understand why the state would not release more money as fish stocking has proven to be one the states best investments with a 7-1 return on money spent. The committee continues to urge the NYSCC to lobby for release of the needed money to update these facilities. The hatcheries have enough trouble meeting the stocking requirements for New York due to personnel reductions; they need updated equipment as soon as possible! Other concerns and comments by the committee are as follows:

CORMORANTS
    The DEC has done a good job on these voracious fish predators on Oneida Lake and the eastern end of Lake Ontario through non-lethal and lethal methods. The problem with non lethal methods of control is that they have to be applied every year and in some instances such as harassment it appears that the birds just move to another spot a few miles away. The relaxing of the endangered species status by the Federal government will help. The federal government wants to leave control options up to the individual states and that includes the use of lethal methods to control the population. The goal here is not to exterminate the birds, just to reduce their population to a level that will not decimate the fish population.
      Region 9 also felt that a study should be done to see the effect of a growing population of cormorants on the eastern end of Lake Erie. Fishermen are reporting seeing hundreds of these birds actively feeding on Lake Erie and the birds are nesting on several of the islands in the upper Niagara River. The DEC has been quietly controlling the birds on these islands but their overall population seems to be expanding rapidly so Region 9 felt that a study be conducted to see what they are consuming. Cormorants are a problem and will continue to be so in the future.

WALLEYE STOCKING
      Several members of the committee feel that the walleye-stocking program should be expanded throughout New York State and cite statistics that verify the popularity of warm water fishing (primarily walleye) in New York State. Walleye stocking of fingerling has proven to be successful on Oneida Lake, Cattaraugus Creek, Conesius Lake, and Owasco Lake to name a few and probably could be expanded to other lakes. The DEC does not have a problem with this and has stated repeatedly that if we expand these programs we must give up other ongoing stocking programs as they have limited facilities.  A cooperative venture between the DEC and sportsmen's clubs in Erie County (Region 9) recently stocked 50,000 walleye fingerlings into the Buffalo River. This is the start of a 5-year program to try to establish natural spawning of walleye in this large urban river in Buffalo.
      Chautauqua Lake, long noted for its great walleye fishing and great natural reproduction, has had poor walleye recruitment in the last 8 years and is now being stocked with walleye fingerlings. 75,000 were stocked last fall along with 50,000 fingerlings this spring in an effort to replenish a diminished walleye population. This stocking program will go on until further notice.

LAMPREY EEL
      The lamprey eel have been marking fish once again in Lake Ontario and a TFM treatment is needed to control their population. The committee feels that the DEC should make this a priority, as the health of cold water fishery in Lake Ontario is very important to the "grass roots" communities along this lake.

I FISH NEW YORK
      Even though this program has been put on hold because of lack of personnel the committee still feels that this is a good program and should be reinstituted as soon as possible. The fish committee recognizes the fact that the future of sportfishing will eventually fall on the youth of today and this program worked with children.
      For the first time in many years the fish committee did not have any resolutions to consider. I don't know if this was because of a lack of interest or everyone is satisfied with fishing in New York State!
      There are a number of new regulations regarding fishing starting October 1st . The Fish committee urges everyone to read their fishing syllabus to see if the new regulations effect their particular type of fishing.
      Bass Pro is considering a Bass Pro store in downtown Buffalo. This Bass Pro store will have a Great Lakes historical theme. New York State is offering the Bass Pro people $80,000,000 in assistance as an incentive. This store would be an important part of the revitalization of the Buffalo waterfront.
       I feel that the fish committee is well rounded with representatives of the Great Lakes, warm water, cold water and stream fishermen. Most of them have been members for several years and have an good understanding of their local problems in their regions. I would like to commend them for their participation on this important committee.

                                                                                               Joseph Fischer